Robins hoodoo strikes again

Chris Taylor on the charge for Latics

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Oldham Athletic 0, Cheltenham 1

WHEN it comes to facing Cheltenham Town in the cup, Athletic always break out in a cold sweat.

Call it effaycuppaphobia but, having been dumped by the Robins twice in recent seasons, they completed a very nasty hat-trick with last night’s performance in a first-round replay at Boundary Park.

On the balance of chances Athletic should have won, but they were awful in the first half when Cheltenham — with one league away point all term and not a single clean sheet for three months — hit the match-winning goal.

And manager John Sheridan pointed an accusing finger at his players after they undid the good work from Saturday’s League One victory at Northampton.

Sheridan said: “I’m very angry inside and I hope they are hurting as much as me. We had great opportunities in the last 25 minutes, but why did it take so long?

“We were at home to Cheltenham and, no disrespect, but they have conceded 20-odd away goals this season and I expected us to beat them.

“We knew they would only score from a setplay, but we still went behind from a throw-in. Yet again we gave a team a goal start.

“We bombarded them in the second half and had a right go, but you can’t say we were unlucky. Certain players need to do a lot, lot better because at the end of the day we’ve gone out of the FA Cup at home to Cheltenham.”

Sheridan set out with the system which earned a fighting draw at Whaddon Road, using three in central midfield and Lewis Alessandra as the lone frontman.

Sean Gregan was recalled to shield the back four from an aerial onslaught, but a formation which prospers one week doesn’t always work the next.

Too many players looked unsure of their role as Athletic stuttered and spluttered through the first 30 minutes and fell into the trap of copying Cheltenham’s style.

Impose your own game, do your own thing, don’t get sucked into launching long balls — it was all much easier said than done.

After half an hour Athletic changed their system but not their habits, even though strikers like Alessandra and Matt Wolfenden were at a huge disadvantage with the high ball, whether it be 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or any other permutation you like.

The second half was a different story as wingers and full-backs saw plenty of possession and provided a stream of crosses, but Cheltenham would not be moved.

Athletic made several openings, only to misfire, lament the absence of senior strikers, find visiting ’keeper Scott Brown in top form and give the impression they just weren’t going to score.

Conceding the first goal was a serious problem as it allowed Cheltenham to pack 10 men behind the ball. And with manager Martin Allen screaming instructions — seriously, the guy is more animated than a Tom and Jerry cartoon — Cheltenham executed their plan to the letter.

They should have gone ahead in the first two minutes as Athletic struggled to deal with a ball through the middle and needed ’keeper Mark Crossley to save from Lee Ridley.

Crossley also denied Ashley Vincent as his side made a nervous start which culminated in Cheltenham’s opening goal.

Athletic were caught sleeping in defence, with young midfielder Lewis Montrose given space to control eight yards out and send his angled drive low into the net.

Chris Taylor headed wide at the other end, but Athletic’s attacking fluency was stuck near zero and they had a self-defeating lack of width.

To an extent there was mitigation as Deane Smalley carried a knock before being replaced by Wolfenden, making his first appearance of the campaign.

Yet Cheltenham ’keeper Brown had nothing to do until first-half stoppage time when he beat away Stefan Stam’s header — it was a dreadful 45 minutes.

Athletic’s first real chance fell to Wolfenden, who latched on to an Alessandra pass but was unable to slide his shot wide of Brown’s reach.

Now the home side were starting to get somewhere, with Alessandra meeting a Danny Jones cross and forcing a save at the near post.

Brave defending was next to keep Cheltenham in front when Taylor, a rapidly-maturing player doing all he could to inspire those around him, was blocked off by Alan Wright’s challenge.

That was Cheltenham in a nutshell — bodies in the line of fire, a sky-high work rate — and Athletic didn’t have the ruthless streak to combat their visitors’ determination.

They went close after 86 minutes as Jones delivered a free-kick and substitute Kieran Lee dived full length to flash a header off target.

Brown parried several more efforts before the game entered seven minutes of injury time, during which Cheltenham were parked inside their own box.

Athletic’s night, however, was summed up when three good chances went begging in a matter of seconds through Alessandra and Wolfenden.

Many in the sparse crowd were booing at the end, but life felt an awful lot sweeter for the 81 away fans who must view Athletic as their favourite FA Cup opponents.

ATHLETIC: Crossley, Lomax, Hazell, Stam (Liddell 51), Jones, Gregan, Allott, Maher (Lee 76), Smalley (Wolfenden 36), Taylor, Alessandra. Subs (not used): Fleming, Stephens.

CHELTENHAM: Brown, Bird, Gallinagh, Diallo, Wright, Murray, Montrose, Westlake, Ridley, Spencer (Owusu 46), Vincent (Connor 66). Subs (not used): Higgs, Armstrong, Lindegaard, Hayes, Payne.

GOALS – ATHLETIC: None CHELTENHAM: Montrose (22)

SHOTS/HEADERS ON TARGET – ATHLETIC: 9 CHELTENHAM: 3

SHOTS/HEADERS OFF TARGET – ATHLETIC: 7 CHELTENHAM: 1

CORNERS – ATHLETIC: 7 CHELTENHAM: 8

CARDS – ATHLETIC: Hazell (48 foul), Wolfenden (61 foul) CHELTENHAM: Montrose (11 foul)

REFEREE: Mr A Bates

ATTENDANCE: 2,552